Nation's Largest Animal Protection Organization Praises Elimination of Caged Eggs from Natural Food Chain
WASHINGTON — Today, The HSUS announced another victory in its campaign to end the intensive caging of egg-laying hens. San Diego-based natural foods retail chain Jimbo's...Naturally! has agreed to stop the sale of eggs from caged birds in each of its three stores, all located in the San Diego area. Jimbo's...Naturally! has joined the growing list of grocery stores and universities that have discontinued purchasing eggs from caged hens.
In the United States, approximately 95 percent of eggs sold come from hens confined in barren "battery cages," wire enclosures so small the birds can't even flap their wings or engage in many other natural behaviors, such as nesting, foraging, perching, and dust bathing. The cages provide each bird with less floor space than a single sheet of paper on which to live, leading to extremely high levels of stress and frustration.
Jim Someck, President of Jimbo's...Naturally!, states, "Jimbo's is committed to social responsibility, which includes supporting the humane treatment of animals. Therefore Jimbo's has decided to discontinue the selling of eggs from caged birds."
Just this year, Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace—two of the nation's largest natural foods retailers—announced their pledges to eliminate the sale of eggs laid by chickens confined battery cages. And earlier this month, the North-Carolina based natural food retail chain Earth Fare did the same. Similarly, several universities have also ended or dramatically reduced their sales of cage eggs, including George Washington University, Marist College, Vassar College, University of Arizona, University of Connecticut, and University of Rochester.
According to The HSUS Factory Farming Campaign Manager Paul Shapiro, "Battery-caged hens are among the most abused animals in all of agribusiness. Jimbo's...Naturally! has taken a positive step to help reduce animal suffering by discontinuing to purchase eggs from caged hens, and we commend their efforts and encourage other grocers to follow suit."
The HSUS is also focusing on a national campaign urging Trader Joe's, a top natural foods store based near Los Angeles, to stop supporting battery cage eggs.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
